Buoyant flashlight cover



May 6, 1958 v, KNUDSEN 2,832,968

BUOYANT FLASHLIGHT cdvER Filed Sept. 27, 1955 8 r L/s gg'fiz /9 a F l t]. 5

INVENTOR: Valdemar Knudsen BY m ' ATTORNEY-5 United States Patent BUOYANT FLASHLIGHT COVER Valdemar Knudsen, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii Application September 27, 1955, Serial No. 536,856

3 Claims. (Cl. 9-8.3)

This invention relates to a new and novel waterproof flashlight cover or casing readily adaptable to standard flashlights of various makes.

The cover according to the invention is characterized by an airtight body having a head portion containing a lens, the head portion being adapted to grasp or enclose the various head shapes of standard flashlights, a clamp being provided to secure the lens in the head portion and for other purposes explained below. Formed integrally or bonded to the head portion is the flexible, expansible,

body portion of the cover, forming a sac-like enclosure for the flashlight body containing batteries. The flashlight is inserted into the cover by loosening the clamp and removing the lens carried by the cover head, the cover having no other opening, except in one modification of the invention which includes valve means.

The invention is primarily intended for marine use, although its advantages obviously extend to other uses on land where a flashlight may be exposed to rain or moisture.

In general, the invention provides a waterproof cover of very simple construction into which a flashlight may be easily installed in any axial position, the usual flashlight switch being operable through any part of the flexible body portion. The body portion is made of a length and diameter to exceed the length and diameter of the flashlight to be used therein, there being thus provided an air chamber of selected size. This excess length in the body portion may be employed in various ways to be explained in further detail, for example, to accommodate flashlights of various lengths, or to provide a buoyancy chamber to float the assemblage in water, or even suflicient to support a swimmer. The cover is especially designed to protect those parts of a flashlight most easily damaged.

For lifesaving purposes, the cover, with flashlight, provides unique assistance to persons lost overboard at sea in the night. When kept as a lifesaving aid on shipboard, the covered flashlight may be lighted quickly and hurled toward a person in the sea awaiting rescue. Falling into the sea, the invention will cause the flashlight to float head down, providing an illuminated patch of water which the swimmer may approach, wave action causing the light to swing and flash in various directions. The buoyancy of the light can assist the swimmer to remain afloat until he signals with the light to guide rescuers.

The invention is especially adapted also to underwater uses, it being sufliciently waterproof despite the simplicity of construction, to withstand water pressures encountered at considerable depths. In this field, the invention is particularly useful for commercial or naval divers, and sportsmen engaged in underwater fishing or exploration, it being possible to adjust the buoyancy of the light, while under water if necessary. In such activities it is often desired to adjust the buoyancy of the light in various degrees. It may be adjusted to cause the light to remain on the surface, shining down on the diver beneath. Or, the diver may wish the light to return slowly to the surface, or to sink radualiy to the bottom it he releases or tops it during a dive. The cover of the invention is readily adjustable for these purposes.

A further advantage, likewise not found in known waterproof flashlight constructions, is that the cover according to the invention can be tested to assure that it remains waterproof. The diver merely needs to squeeze the body portion of cover while it is immersed to test this condition.

According to a modified form of the invention, the device above described is further provided with valve means whereby the cover may be deflated or inflated to the desired buoyancy or lack thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be mentioned in connection with the description of the drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view, with parts in section, showing the invention as applied to a standard type flashlight;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the head clamp seen at the left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of the head portion of the cover seen at the left hand side of Fig. l, modified by the addition of valve means for inflating or deflating the cover; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in section of the valve of the Fig. 3 modification.

While there are many shapes and sizes of flashlights in use, the most popular and most common are those which employ a plurality of cylindrical dry cells carried end to end in a cylindrical flashlight body, connecting with an enlarged head in which a lens, reflector and bulb are contained. Such flashlights seldom carry less than two such cells, and those meant for brighter illumination or longer life may carry up to seven cells.

In Fig. 1 the invention is shown as applied to such a standard flashlight, designated at 10. The cover of the invention consists of a head portion 11 of relatively heavy, inflexible waterproof material such as rubber or a rubbersubstitute connected as by vulcanization to a relatively thin, waterproof, flexible body portion 12. Body 12 is tubular and its extremity may be sealed as by vulcanization to form the flat tail portion 13, in which is provided a grommeted hole 14. Hole 14 may be employed to attach the invention to a hook or the like on a wall or bulkhead, or a lanyard may be passed through it to attach the device to a swimmer.

The inner wall of head portion 11 is graduated in diameter, as shown at 15, i6 and 17, to accommodate and to frictionally grasp the heads of various standard flashlights, which are made in several diameters.

Flashlight it? is shown as equipped with the standard type of sliding button switch 27, which can easily be felt and manipulated through the thin wall of body 12 in whatever position it happens to be located upon insertion of light Ill into the cover of the invention.

The device is provided with its own lens 18 carried in a groove 19 formed in the inner rim of head 11. It will be evident from the construction so far described that the only means for escape of air contained in the cover is between groove 19 and lens 18. This may be selectively prevented or regulated by the provision of a suitable fiat ring-shaped clamp which fits over the outer rim of head 11 externally of lens 12..

The precise type of clamping means utilized for the purposes indicated may be one of several which are commercially obtainable, the requirements being that the clamp must readily adjustable (by a swimmer in the water, for example) to various degrees of tightness, can exert sufilcient leverage to make the cover absolutely water proof and can be readily removed from the cover.

A preferred type of such a clamp is shown in the aaaases Q3 drawing, consisting of the stainless steel strap or band 20, one end of which carries a housing containing a screw 22. Screw 22 is knurled for hand manipulation and also is provided with a slot 23 for rotation by a screw .driver. The other end of band 2t) passes inside housing 21 and is provided with slots 24 which are engaged by threads 25 of screw 22.

By using a clamp of this construction, the tension of band 20 may be selectively adjusted either by hand or by a screwdriver. it screw 22. is sufiiciently loosened, strap 2% may be drawn off the head 11, and lens 18 removed, whereupon the flashlight it) can be removed from the cover.

This strap and clamping means relates to the air space 30 in the body 12 of the cover. The invention contemplates that the body 12 should provide a substantial air chamber in excess of the room occupied by flashlight i as shown in Fig. 1. By loosening strap 28 to a limited degree, as above described, air in the spaces 30 may be decreased by squeezing body 12, and the cover, with light contained therein, be reduced in buoyancy. Air in the spaces 3b may selectively be increased if the head 11 is placed in the operators mouth and he blows air into the device. The purposes and advantages of this adjustment have been described above.

In Figs. 3 are shown a modified form of the device, the same construction above described being supplemented by the addition of an air-control valve 35. This valve, in the form shown, is mounted in the head portion 11 and consists of the threaded valve body 36 having an eccentric passageway 37, and a threaded cap having an eccentrically bored hole 39. Cap 38 is so designed that when screwed tight on body 35, hole 39 is not in register with passage 37, leaving the valve closed. However, less than one turn of cap 38 will put hole 39 and passage 37 in register to open the valve. lreferably the threaded connection is such that cap 33 cannot be completely unscrewed from body 36 and lost.

According to this modification the valve 35, and not clamp 20, is the element to be adjusted when the air content of the invention is to be changed. Clearly, wi h valve 35 in open position air may be ejected by squeezing body 12, and may be introduced by placing valve 25 in the mouth or by application of a pump if desired.

What is claimed is:

l. A waterproof cover for an electric flashlight, said flashlight being of the type consisting of an elongated battery casing joined to a-larger diameter head containing illuminating means and a protecting lens, said cover being composed of a head portion having a lip of greater diameter than the head of the flashlight and containing a lens, said head portion tapering from said lip to a diameter less than said flashlight head and containing means for engaging and holding said flashlight head with the lens of said cover in register with the lens of said flashlight head, the head portion of said cover being joined by a watertight connection to the body portion of said cover consisting of a relatively flexible Waterproof envelope enclosing the battery casing of the flashlight, said envelope having dimensions substantially in excess of said battery casing, in inflated condition normally making no contact with said battery casing and forming a substantial uninterrupted air chamber around said battery casing, said cover head portion further carrying means clamping said head portion against the lens of said cover, said means being adjustable to form a seal therebetween which is leakproof.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the head portion of the cover contains a supplemental air valve for regulating the air content of the body portion of the cover.

3. A waterproof cover for an electric flashlight, said flashlight being of the type consisting of a cylindrical battery casing joined to a large diameter head containing illuminating means and a lens mounted in the top of said head, said cover being composed of a body portion in the form of an envelope of flexible waterproof material having dimensions substantially in ex ess of said flashlight battery casing to provide an air chamber therebetween substantially surrounding said battery casing when the flashlight is installed in said cover, said body portion connecting at its upper end with a flared head portion having a neck of smaller diameter than said flashlight head and carrying at its top a removable lens,

said flared head portion providing a cup-like receptacle holding the flashlight by its head with its illuminating means and lens in register with the lens of the head portion and with its battery casing extending through said neck into the envelope formed by the body portion, the removable lens being retained in the top of the flared head portion of the cover in a groove formed in the inner periphery of said head portion, an adjustable ring type clamp being located externally of said groove around said head portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,649,638 Wood Nov. 15, 1927 2,222,246 TOber Nov. 19, 1940 2,299,035 Rothenberg et al Oct. 13, 1942 2,324,983 Gollings July 20, 1943 

